Get On With Investigation

Unfortunately, that kind of hucksterism has marked development of Wedgefield, a 5,000-unit subdivision on the eastern fringes of Orange County, for the better part of the past three decades.

Whispers of fraud, bankruptcy and back-room deals have dogged the project almost since its inception in 1962, when it was known as Rocket City.

Most recently, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation has spent the better part of a year investigating the current developer, Magna Properties.

In fact, in a recently released report, DBPR and its Division of Land Sales outline allegations that Magna Vice President Gerald Braley and his business

associates deceived people who unwittingly bought more than $1 million worth of undevelopable lots at Wedgefield.

What is surprising, though, is the length of time the DBPR investigation has dragged on and the seeming inability of state enforcement agencies to get to the bottom of all the rumor, innuendo and allegations that have dogged Wedgefield.

Now disturbing revelations have surfaced about mysterious, threatening faxes sent from the Magna offices to then-state Rep. Marvin Couch, who represented the Wedgefield area. One anonymous fax threatened to reveal an

unspecified loan made to Mr. Couch, unless, apparently, he stopped aiding an inquiry into the sale of Wedgefield lots.

Mr. Couch says he knows of no such loan, and Mr. Braley says he gave Mr. Couch only campaign contributions.

Something, though, is amiss here. The Florida Attorney General's Office, which will receive the Division of Land Sales' final report, should find out what that something is - and soon.

Those who are subject to scrutiny shouldn't have to live indefinitely under a cloud of suspicion. If wrongdoing is proved, then those involved should be punished, and those who were victimized should be compensated.

It's long past time for the final chapter of the Wedgefield saga to be written.